2 Samuel7
New Living Translation
1When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies,
2the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”
3Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4But that same night the Lord said to Nathan,
5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in?
6I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling.
7Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?”’
8“Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel.
9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!
10And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past,
11starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. “‘Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings!
12For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.
13He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.
14I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do.
15But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight.
16Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’”
17So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said in this vision.
18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
19And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?
20“What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign Lord.
21Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant.
22“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!
23What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.
24You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God.
25“And now, O Lord God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever.
26And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.
27“O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’
28For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
29And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David's care for the ark. (1–3). God's covenant with David. (4–17). His prayer and thanksgiving. (18–29).
vv1-3
David being at rest in his palace, considered how he might best employ his leisure and prosperity in the service of God. He formed a design to build a temple for the ark. Nathan here did not speak as a prophet, but as a godly man, encouraging David by his private judgment. We ought to do all we can to encourage and promote the good purposes and designs of others, and, as we have opportunity, to forward a good work.
vv4-17
Blessings are promised to the family and posterity of David. These promises relate to Solomon, David's immediate successor, and the royal line of Judah. But they also relate to Christ, who is often called David and the Son of David. To him God gave all power in heaven and earth, with authority to execute judgment. He was to build the gospel temple, a house for God's name; the spiritual temple of true believers, to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. The establishing of his house, his throne, and his kingdom for ever, can be applied to no other than to Christ and his kingdom: David's house and kingdom long since came to an end. The committing iniquity cannot be applied to the Messiah himself, but to his spiritual seed; true believers have infirmities, for which they must expect to be corrected, though they are not cast off.
vv18-29
David's prayer is full of the breathings of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits. All we have, must be looked upon as Divine gifts. He speaks very highly and honourably of the Lord's favours to him. Considering what the character and condition of man is, we may be amazed that God should deal with him as he does. The promise of Christ includes all; if the Lord God be ours, what more can we ask, or think of? Eph 3:20. He knows us better than we know ourselves; therefore let us be satisfied with what he has done for us. What can we say more for ourselves in our prayers, than God has said for us in his promises? David ascribes all to the free grace of God. Both the great things He had done for him, and the great things He had made known to him. All was for his word's sake, that is, for the sake of Christ the eternal Word. Many, when they go to pray, have their hearts to seek, but David's heart was found, that is, it was fixed; gathered in from its wanderings, entirely engaged to the duty, and employed in it. That prayer which is from the tongue only, will not please God; it must be found in the heart; that must be lifted up and poured out before God. He builds his faith, and hopes to speed, upon the sureness of God's promise. David prays for the performance of the promise. With God, saying and doing are not two things, as they often are with men; God will do as he hath said. The promises of God are not made to us by name, as to David, but they belong to all who believe in Jesus Christ, and plead them in his name.
Key Words
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
נוּחַ: to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.)
סָבִיב: (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
אֹיֵב: hating; an adversary
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
נָתָן: Nathan, the name of five Israelites
נָבִיא: a prophet or (generally) inspired man
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Cross References
2 Samuel 7Peter explains that God's oath to raise up David's seed is fulfilled in Christ's resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Gabriel announces Jesus as the final fulfillment of the promise of an everlasting Davidic throne.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
New Testament quotation applying the father-son relationship of verse 14 directly to Jesus Christ.
Supported by JFB
The exact parallel historical account of Nathan's prophecy and the establishment of the Davidic covenant.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
A profound poetic reflection on the terms, promises, and enduring nature of the Davidic covenant.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Solomon recalls David's heartfelt desire to build a temple for the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David recounts God's promise that his son Solomon would build the physical temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel expression of David's awe regarding God treating him according to the estate of a high man.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the context of David's luxurious 'house of cedar' built by Hiram's craftsmen.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Solomon explains that David's constant wars prevented him from building the physical temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Elaborates on divine discipline as proof of sonship, echoing the promise of fatherly correction.
Supported by Matthew Henry
A New Testament parallel to David's amazement at God doing far beyond what man expects.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Self-referential connection showing Israel redeemed from Egypt to be God's unique people forever.
Supported by JFB
God reminds David of his abundant grace, highlighting that prior gifts were also substantial.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms that God's words and promises of eternal inheritance are absolutely true and cannot lie.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole